The action at the Renault National Beach Volleyball Series womens' final. Photo: Supplied

“Our concern is the government may, for financial reasons, say it doesn’t have the extra money needed to put the event on in Gold Coast, even though everyone is overwhelmingly in favour of it,” said National President Chris Schacht.

“The Gold Coast is one of the iconic beaches of Australia along with Bondi, and having beach volleyball would get world coverage of the city even beyond the Commonwealth Games countries.”

Mr Schacht said the AVF had submitted a proposal to the state government requesting a $5 million to $7 million investment to build a 6000-capacity stand at Broachbeach and run the competition with 2 teams from 32 countries, playing three sessions a day.

The Australian Commonwealth Games Association is believed to be happy to include beach volleyball in the 2018 line-up as long as government funding is forthcoming.

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“If the government says no now, they may regret it in two or three years’ time when the budget position in Queensland may be a lot better,” Mr Schacht said.

“They won’t be able to go back and say ‘We’ve got money available,’ because the decision of the Commonwealth Games Association will be made one way or the other by the middle of this year.”

A spokesperson for Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey said the concern was unfounded.

“The proposal for sports to be included into the Commonwealth Games hasn't come to government for consideration at this stage,” said the spokesperson.

“The Australian Volleyball Association has submitted a proposal to GOLDOC [Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation], which is currently being assessed.”

The spokesperson said the government will await that assessment and others as part of the normal planning process, with a final decision expected in the next couple of months.

Mr Schact said beach volleyball was so popular, TV rights to a Commonwealth Games tournament would probably be snapped up by overseas networks and even those in non-Commonwealth countries.

“Beach volleyball will continue to grow around the world at a rapid rate, but Queensland won’t get the benefit of it,” he said.

“There are so many angles the goverment can use to promote it - as a first for Queensland, a first for the Gold Coast, for tourism, for development and for profile.”

Mr Schact said this weekend’s free Renault National Series in Surfers Paradise was proof of the sport’s popularity, with full 500-plus crowds at both day and night games.

“The Gold Coast is built on its beaches and the tourism that comes with it, and we are the sport of the beach,” he said.